An India Today TV crew was attacked in Sirsa. The TV team’s cameraman Pradeep Gupta was seriously injured in the attack. Stones were pelted at the India Today vehicle as they tried to get out of the court complex.

The camerman had to be immediately rushed to a local hospital. He received serious injuries on his face. The vehicle was trying to reach the main gate of Sirsa which was only at a distance of 2kms. The followers were reportedly carrying sharp weapons with which the they attacked the India Today crew.

The Outdoor Broadcasting vans of several television news channels were attacked by the supporters outside the court complex here, adjoining Chandigarh. Some OB vans were set on fire in Panchkula. A telephone exchange was also torched by Dera protestors in Chananwal in Punjab’s Barnala.

A special CBI court in Panchkula convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a rape case filed against him 15 years ago. Ahead of the CBI court’s verdict in the 15-year-old rape case, an unprecedented security cover was put in place across Punjab and Haryana.

The verdict came as a big setback to Ram Rahim’s followers who indulged in violence after attacking media and police vehicles. Police had to fire tear gas and gunshots to control the angry supporters.

Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in great numbers. Ten trucks of army entered CBI courts complex and took charge of securing the courts complex after the judgment.

The police and paramilitary forces could not react adequately as the mobs indulged in violence. But tear gas was fired at one place, leading to stone throwing by Ram Rahim Singh’s supporters.

A total of 15 incidents of violence were reported within 45 minutes in Punjab and Haryana after the court verdict became known. Most attacks took place in Sectors 3, 4 and 5, which are all close to the court complex.

Meanwhile, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is being taken to the Western Command Headquarters in Chandimandir. From Chandimandir he will be flown out on a helicopter to either the Rothak Jail or to Gurugram.